EMS - ISO 14001

The norm ISO 14001 defines the requirements to an EMS which passes the international accepted regulations. This norm has its focus on the continuous improvement as a tool to gain the individual aims related to the environmental performance of the organisation (company, service provider, public authorities  etc.). This continuous improvement process is working with the method PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACT (PDCA):

o PLAN (regulation of aims and processes to realise the environmental policy of the organisation)
o DO (realisation of the processes)
o CHECK (check of all processes regarding to all relevant legislative requirements and the aims of the environmental policy of the organisation; if applicable the publication of the environmental performance (success of the organisation related to the tasks for the protection of the environment)
o ACT (if necessary the organisation has to correct or adapt the processes to gain the environmental policy)

Therefore an organisation is fixing the internal environmental policy, environmental targets and environmental program and implementing a management system for the organisation (company, service provider, public authorities etc.) to gain the aims. The mass flow analysis has been improved as perfect additional tool to describe the effects on the environment. On the base of the analysis of mass flow and energy consumption the approach of “Cleaner Production” helps to gain possible aims of reducing waste, sewage, pollutions and other emissions. To gain the ideal environmental performance the organisation (company, service provider, public authorities etc.) based on its environmental policy (aims for environmental protection) is implementing an environmental management system (EMS).

A periodic check of the fixed environmental aims and its EMS should guarantee the continuous improvement. The norm itself says that that there are no strict requirements for the environmental performance. But it is asking to obey all in the environmental policy fixed commitments of the organisation (company, service provider, public authorities etc.).

The revised version of ISO14001 the organisation has “to meet actual legal commitments”. But it is not necessary to pass its compliance. ("commitment to compliance" instead "compliance" in the original text).

If you are interested in the similarities and differences of ISO 14001/EMAS have a look to our tablet.